LID IS LIFTED ON THEATRE ROYAL’S 2018
SEASON
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
Ballet British Columbia 13-14
March ‘18
Sherlock Holmes 8-12
May ‘18
Dusty the Musical 17-21
July ‘18
Kinky Boots 29
Oct–10 Nov ‘18
Newcastle Theatre Royal’s 2018 Spring/Summer
season opens a theatrical treasure chest of riches featuring breath-taking
dance, thought-provoking drama, feel-good musicals and family shows
aplenty. So resolve to make 2018 your year of theatre!
The Grade 1 listed Theatre will be bursting at the
seams this year as it welcomes no less than five big musicals, including Evita
(22-26 May), Hairspray (25-30 June), Dusty the Musical (17-21
July), Calendar Girls (18-29 Sep) and Kinky Boots (29 Oct – 10
Nov).
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s hit show Evita
returns to Newcastle in May, starring Madalena Alberto (Les Misérables)
and Gian Marco Schiaretti (Tarzan). Telling the story of Eva Peron –
wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron – Evita follows Eva’s
journey from humble beginnings through to extraordinary iconic status and
features some of the most famous songs in musical theatre.
Returning for one week only after a sell-out visit
in Spring 2016, West End and Broadway hit Hairspray lands 25-30
June. Set in 1962, Hairspray tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a big
girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, who’s on a mission to follow her dreams
and dance her way onto national TV. This is a feel-good show with the ultimate
dance-in-your-seat and singalong soundtrack.
Dusty the Musical (17-21
July) is a landmark new show based on the authorised biography of Dusty
Springfield, featuring many of her blazingly soulful pop hits, including I
Only Want
to Be with You, Son of a Preacher Man
and You Don't Have to Say You Love Me. With a fiercely funny
and emotionally charged script from BAFTA and Olivier nominated writer
Jonathan Harvey, Dusty celebrates the
extraordinary and vivacious woman with the iconic voice.
Calendar Girls the Musical (18-29
Sep), by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, is the award winning musical comedy based
on the true story of a group of ordinary ladies who achieved something
extraordinary. Straight from the West End, this is a glorious new production
with an all-star cast.
But perhaps the most anticipated of the season is Kinky
Boots (29 Oct – 10 Nov), winner of every major Best Musical award,
including the 2016 Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Featuring songs by
Grammy and Tony winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper and a book by Broadway legend
Harvey Fierstein this dazzling show is a joyous story of Brit grit, taking
audiences from the factory floor of Northampton to the catwalks of Milan!
Dance fans will delight in three big names this
season, starting with the breathtaking Ballet British Columbia (13-14
Mar). Making its Theatre Royal debut, Canada’s leading national dance
company present an exhilarating evening of dance by three internationally
celebrated female choreographers. Recognised for their fresh creativity, this
18-strong company of dancers will astound UK audiences with their unique blend
of cool, classical elegance, contemporary flair and extraordinary skill.
Returning in May due to phenomenal demand is
international Irish dance sensation Spirit of the Dance (16-19) on its
record-breaking 20 year anniversary tour. One of the world’s most successful
dance shows, Spirit of the Dance showcases the heart-pounding rhythms of
Irish dance as well as sensual Flamenco and red hot salsa. Not one dancer
steps out of line as their thunderous feet perform in this thrilling and
explosive production.
Another big name to return this season is Stomp
(13-18 Aug), the unstoppable smash-hit but fresher, faster and funnier than
ever! Combining dance, comedy and music into a theatrical experience like no
other Stomp takes familiar objects like newspapers, bins, plastics bags
and even the kitchen sink and uses them to create a universal language of
rhythm and movement that’s playful, thrilling and exploding with energy.
For drama lovers we are proud to present one
riveting new show and one old favourite. Sherlock Holmes – The
Final Curtain (8-12 May) is a gripping new stage show with an all-star cast
including Robert Powell and Liza Goddard in celebration of the world’s greatest
detective. Holmes lives in retirement on the South Coast and is concerned in
his advancing years he may be an easy target for his enemies. So when a new
case presents itself Holmes is determined to kill two birds with one stone -
solve the mystery and confront his own demons.
Following its sell-out success in January, the
multi award-winning West End smash hit comedy drama The Play that Goes Wrong
returns 2-7 July. The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are putting
on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go
wrong... does! As the accident prone thesps battle on against all the odds to
reach their final curtain call, hilarious results ensue! Now playing on
Broadway and enjoying its 4th year in the West End, the show has secured rave
reviews and won a host of celebrity endorsements along the way.
Another comedy treat, back once again to warm the
hearts of their loyal fans are the incorrigibly Grumpy Old Women (20
May). Fed up with flogging their guts out and always having to be in
charge, the GOW have put their knobbly old feet up in glorious
retirement. Free at last to practise their extreme colouring-in, ukulele
orchestra and novelty fudge-making! But, with the world in a bigger mess
than ever before, they will need to unleash their superpowers as only three old
Grumpies know how! Stars Jenny Eclair, Dillie Keane and Lizzie Roper.
Also sure to be a sell-out is the official world
premiere of ITV’s smash hit comedy Benidorm (7-15 Sep), which opens at
Newcastle Theatre Royal prior to a major national tour. Produced by
iconic Newcastle born West End producer Michael Harrison (The Bodyguard;
Young Frankenstein) the show features the much loved TV cast and will bring
a heady dose of sangria-soaked Solana sunshine to the stage for the very first
time!
Two great new shows for smaller customers complete
the new season – a brand new live stage show from the Youtube sensation
Little Baby Bum (10-11 July) invites pre-schoolers to step into the magical
and colourful world of Nursery Rhymes, while August sees the return of
everyone’s favourite piggy in Peppa Pig’s Adventure (22-23 Aug) where we
welcome back Peppa and friends as they embark on a camping trip full of games,
laughter and live music!
Tickets:
Tickets for all new shows in the Spring / Summer
‘18 season can be purchased online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal
Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone
company’s access charge).
